The Canon 110ED was first released 1974, a high end camera for Kodak 110 pocket film*(see below). There is a simpler version, the 110E and a successor, the 100ED 20, which is prepared for the use of 400 ISO film
*
110 film was introduced by Kodak in 1972. The film sits in a cartridge,
like Kodak's earlier 126 film, but is much smaller. A frame is 13mm ×
17mm, has one perforation per image to control film advance and 24
frames per cartridge (12 were also available). The film is protected by
a backing paper like 120 film. The frame number is visible through a
window at the back of the cartridge. The basic film is ordinary 16mm
film which was already on the market, so it could be processed in
existing machines. The small picture size made very small, pocketable
cameras possible.
Kodak introduced with its 110 film a line of
Kodak Pocket Instamatic cameras which were followed by
cameras from other manufacturers. Most cameras were cheap
point-and-shoot, but very sophisticated models were also made. Small
digital cameras made 110 film obsolete. Bit by bit manufacturers stopped making 110 format film (Fujifilm in 2009), but in 2012 (and 2019) Lomography made a large batch of 110 film, followed by other firms.
The
Canon 110ED has a rangefinder and advanced features, a very luminous
lens and aperture priority setting with an automatic shutter. Its main features are:
26mm F2 Canon lens, 5 elements in 4 groups, F2-F16, min. focus 0.6m Electronic shutter, 8s - 1/500 Size 142x56x29, Weight 295 gr. only
100
ISO, rangefinder, only parallax compensation marks, electronic flash available,
data print possibility (only '74 to '84 or '83 to '93, depending on the model, and for all: single digit years), to be
set manually
Camera closed and flash in case.
Camera
closed all lens and viewer parts well protected. Shutter release is
blocked when the camera is closed, doesn't work on one of mine, so test
without film recommended.
Camera front open. Big and bright view/rangefinder with bright framelines. Back view. The
window shows the film type and the frame number of the cartrigde
inserted. The viewer only shows parrallax marks and an under- or
overexposure warning.
Seen
from the top. Orange shutter release and cable release socket next to
it. Distance setting slider with meters and feet scale, not indicated
in the viewer as this is a real rangefinder, aperture setting via 4
symbols from F2, F4 (cloudy), F8 (sunny) to F16, not visible in the
viewer either. Date setting and flash shoe.
Seen
from below. Tripod socket. Film advance slider, single stroke.
Camera and flash.
Seen from the back. Distance/aperture scale. Takes 2 AA batteries.
Camera film compartment open. The hinge is stiff and has to be forced a bit.
Battery carrier taken out..Takes a 4LR44 battery, still available.
Date setting. The squares indicate "no date". 2-digit years from '74 to '84 or '83 to '93, depending on the model, and for all: single digit years 0 to 9. To be
set manually via wheels on the side of the camera. For a good date imprint keep the shutter depressed a bit longer.
This
camera is very easy to use, silde it open and it's ready.
It has
manual aperture settings, the shutter is automatic. You have only to
focus and frame, which is easy via the real rangefinder. If by half pressing the shutter no lamp appears,
exposure is fine. If a red lamp appears to the right, it's
overexposure. Adjust the aperture. If a
yellow lamp appears to the left, the
camera will use slow shutter speeds. There is an electronic flash
available, but the camera deals well with available light. After taking
a picture, you have to action the slder once for film advance and shutter
cocking. Putting a film is easy as well,
you drop the film into the compartment, advance to the first frame and that's it.
It's
a very good luxury point and shoot camera
with very good picture quality, good quality
finish in a small pocketable body. This camera feels solid, a bit
on the heavier side. It has an extremely luminous lens. Picture results
were good.
